Srinagar, April 20: A group of 68 Kashmiri migrants today got the keys of new homes one and a half months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the migrant township for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
“We have started the allotment process of two-room flats to Kashmir migrants from today. We have handed over 68 keys to the allottees today,” Executive Engineer, Relief and Rehabilitation Department, Ravinder Koul said.
Koul, who is supervising the allotment operation, said “it depends on the migrants when they will come and stay here. We have given them the possessions today”.
PM had inaugurated the township, 85 km from Jammu, by the handing over 12 keys to allottees on March 4. However, shifting and allotments were delayed by over one and half month.
“We are thankful to the Prime Minister for providing us better space to live, this is better than earlier one where we were forced to live in slum-sheds for nearly two decades in Muthi camp,” said Dwarika Nath (76), flanked by wife Deviki.
Like him, most of the migrants were extremely happy after getting the keys as earlier they were living with their joint families in one room shed.
“We could hardly meet the needs of family. We were living in sub-human conditions,” Sunita (22), who has grown up in Mishriwala camp, said.
“We welcome the move of Prime Minister,” All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC), general secretary, Arun Kandroo said.
After completing verification process for allotment of quarters at Jagti, the relief organisation had finalised a list of 1512 families, Koul said.
Allotment list was finalised for three Migrant camps of Muthi, Nagrota and Mishriwala after verification, he said.
326 families of Muthi, 430 families of Nagrota and 756 families on Mishriwalla got the allotments, Koul said.
The shifting of migrant families have started today from all the three camps and possession shall be given to 48 families daily from each camp, he said, adding that 144 total families on daily basis.
The foundation stone of the 4218 flats Jagti Township, costing Rs 335 crores was laid by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 15, 2007, under the Prime Minister”s Reconstruction and Rehabilitation programme.
The project, which is spread in an area of 89 acres, has 10 parks, 40-bedded hospital, two multipurpose community halls, shopping complex, Higher Secondary and Middle schools, old-age home, 45 shops, common facility centre, sewerage treatment plant and play ground.
—-PTI—-